05 Sep 2024

Four prospective candidates vying for Francistown South parliamentary seat on Tuesday locked horns during Radio Botswana political debates to sway votes come October 30.

The four are Mr David Tawele of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Mr Solly Reikeletseng of the Botswana Democratic Party, Mr Modiri Lucas representing Botswana Patriotic Front and Mr Wynter Mmolotsi of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

The all-male quartet deliberated on a wide range of topics, including health, employment, education, and others. Opening the debate was BCP’s Mr Tawele who argued that there was need for health ministry makeover.

He said the state of the health facilities and allotted resources in Francistown, especially the Nyangabgwe referral hospital, was a cause for concern.

According to Mr Tawele, the facility was often times overwhelmed by patients because of its small size.

He said the only viable remedy to the problem was to construct a district hospital that could serve both the city and the periphery.

“We also believe as BCP that prevention is better than cure and we would make sure that is the case if voted into power during general elections,” he said.

For his part, Mr Reikeletseng countered, saying the ruling BDP had done a great job in terms of health.  Botswana, he relayed, remained among a few countries where people were given free health services. Mr Reikeletseng reminded Mr Tawele that his party planned to construct a district hospital to further improve the primary health system.

He said, however, that much could be done to advance the lives of the citizenry.

However, he regretted that despite the many socio-economic programs intended to uplift the lives of Batswana, including the people of Francistown South, there was little political will from the current MP office to sell such programmes to the intended beneficiaries, most of whom were the youth.

Mr Lucas, currently a nominated councillor, said the Francistown South constituency needed to catch up, especially on bread-and-butter issues.

He was worried that many young people in Francistown South worked for Ipelegeng due to lack of employment.

He said the poor sewerage system and the city’s failure to award churches and small businesses plots were among his priority areas should he win the elections. Mr Lucas is of the view that the establishment of cooperatives could help beat rising unemployment in Francistown South.

The incumbent, Mr Mmolotsi, who is vying for the fourth parliamentary term, said  he remained the only credible and able candidate, having contributed immensely to the development of both the Francistown South constituency and the country.

He said his party was worried about the 26 per cent unemployment rate.  “Letlhoko la mebereko segolojang mo bananeng ke one mathata a matona,” he said.

Also, Mr Mmolotsi expressed his concern about Botswana’s poor health system and the slow issuance of residential plots under the current political dispensation.

A change of government, he said, was the only solution to the problems facing Batswana and Francistown South constituents. Ends